Loose-leaf binder.



B. E. CUMMINGS.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4. 1912.

1,215,496. Patented Feb. 13,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

6 W 7 23 WITNESSES 4/ '7 105 ,ljul'ou, E. Guru/nin a /'/-M. Z By ,477 NEY B. E. CUMMINGS.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 14. 1912.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR Burton/E. Gummz'nys 8. E. CUMMINGS.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-14.1912.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917. I

3 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURTON E. CUMMINGS, OF RIDGEFIELD PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD DAY, 01E NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed March 14, 1912. Serial No. 683,701.

Binders, set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders. An object of the invention is to render looseleaf binders serviceable readily for both temporary and permanent use. To this end there is contemplated the employment of both quick acting and slow powerfully acting clamping mechanism. A further object is to combine these quick acting and slow acting clamping mechanisms with flexible thongs in such a manner as to obtain both maximum extension for the reception ofloose leaves and maximum compressionmovement to accommodate a wide range in the number of leaves to be bound.

The above and further objects of the invention are set forth in the following claims which should be read in connection with this specification which has reference to illustrative embodiments of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which,-

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a binder constructed in accordance with this invention, the covers being spread in opposite directions and the clamping members eing spaced apart ready for the insertion of loose leaves prior to clamping;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section on the plane of line II-II of Fig. 1, of the binder portion of the book shown in Fig. 1, the covers being shown swung into closed position in full lines and one of said covers being shown, by heavy dotted lines, in fully opened position;

Fig. 3 is a partly diagrammatic detail illustration of the clamping members and showing one embodiment of a quick-acting means for adjusting the clamping members;

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of one of the sheets or pages intended for use with the binder illustrated; and Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary cross section drawn to an enlarged scale through the block 24 in substantially the locality of the catch 25 and looking toward the right in Fig. 3 and showing the detail clamping member construction of Figs. 1 and 2.

In carrying out this invention I employ a pair of hollow clamping members connected by suitable flexible tension means shown as flexible thongs and within the hollowof at least one of said clamping members I provide means fixed to the end of said thongs adapted for taking "up or drawing said thongs into said clamping member. In order to provide for a maximum amount of move- -ment between the clamping members, it is,

however, deemed preferable to provide such take-upimechanism within the hollow of each of the clamping members.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the clamping members 1 comprise a tubular structure of sheet metal having substantially right angularly disposed bottom wall 2 and side wall 3 and a semi-circular wall 4 continuing from said walls 2 and 3, all of said walls .being formed from a single sheet of metal bent into desired form. The opposite ends of the sheet arelapped and said lapping ends occur in the bottom wall 2 and one of said ends is bent into a vertically disposed reinforcing rib 5 extending longitudinally of the clamping member and serving eifectually to brace and stiffen said member and also serving as a guide, as will be pointedout presently.- The outer surface of, the walls 2, 3 and 4 are preferably covered with leather as at 6 for presenting a desirable appearance.

The. ends of the clamping members are closed by metallic pieces 7 which may, if desired, be formed as continuations of the wall 2 or may be separately formed pieces brazed or otherwise suitably secured in place. A covering of leather as 8 is fixed over the pieces 7 also for presenting a neat exterior appearance.

Extending between and connecting the clamping members 1 are a pair of ties or thongs 9. One end of each of these thongs extends through an aperture 10,formed-in the bottom wall 2 of one of the members 1, V and passes over a roller l1 mounted within that clamping member, and is fixed toa slide 12 of which there are two within each clamp ing member.

The opposite end of each of the thongs 9 may be rigidly fixed to the material of the other. clamping member, if desired, but in order to provide a greater possible opening between the clamping members, as above suggested, said opposite ends are extended over rollers 11 in said other clamping member and are connected to slides 12 therein.

Extending longitudinally of each clamping member, and mounted in suitable brackets 15 fixed preferably to the reinforcing rib 5, is an oppositely threaded rotatable screw 16. The Sliding members 12 are threaded one upon each end of said screw as best shown in Fig. 1 in such manner that as said screw is rotated said slides are caused to move longitudinally of said screw in opposite directions. In order to prevent rotation of the slides under frictional contact with the screw said slides are formed with pendant legs 17 which straddle the rib 5 and are guided thereby.

The rollers 11 are mounted upon suitable pins 18 extending through the wall 3 and through the reinforcing rib 5.

One end of the shaft 16 is squared as at 19 and the adjacent end wall 7 and the covering 8 thereof, is perforated as at 20 for facilitating the introduction of a key for rotating said shaft.

Obviously the rotation of the shaft 16 within one of the clamping members, and the resultant movement of the slides 12 along said screw, will cause a corresponding take-up, or lengthening, of the exposed portion of the thong 9 between the clamping members for the purpose of adjusting said clamping members relatively to each other.

It is often desirable to provide for a quick-acting movement of one of the clamping members so that said members may be moved apart without the use of a key or, in fact so that said members may be clamped upon a pile of sheets without a key and to this end it is within the province of this invention to provide at least one of the clamping members with a quick-acting mecha nism, as for instance, that shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

This structure comprises, as an illustrative embodiment. a rack bar 21 having teeth facing in opposite directions shown by 22. 23. A pair of slides 24 are movably mounted upon said rack bar and are connected with the adjacent ends of the respective thongs 9. Each of the slides 24: carries a pawl or dog 25 adapted to be pressed into engagement with the teeth 22, 23 by a spring slide 26 against a spring 27 whose normal tendency is to retain said dog out of engagement with said teeth. The slide 26 is adapted to be moved over the cam surface 28 of the dog 25 for yieldingly depressing said dog. Thumb pieces 30 are pivotally mounted upon the slides 24 in such wise as to be capable of being swung substantially out of sight, as shown by dotted lines but being also capable of being swung into operative position through a. slot 45 as shown in full lines. Owing to the diagrammatic character of Fig. 3, the rib 5 does not show in this figure but is nevertheless used, for the purpose above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

The quick acting mechanism just described is preferably present in only one of the clamping members. clamping members is preferably provided with the screw mechanism as shown in each of the clamping members of Figs. 1 and 2. With this combination it is possible to utilize the screw mechanism for adjusting the thongs to accommodate a suitable thickness of book and that adjustment may be retained while the quick acting mechanism in the other clamping member may be readily and conveniently operated at will without the useof a key. When it is desired that the book shall be clamped unusually tight, the screw in the screw member may be r0- tated and produce the desired result in exactly the same manner as described for Fig. 1. a

The book covers are formed with extensions 31 pivotallv connected as at 32 with the inner faces of the end walls 7 of the clamping members. The clamping members are formedwith suitable slots 33 tl'irough which the extensions 31 pass.

A flexible member, such as the flap 34 is fixed to one of the book covers as at 35 and extends around the walls l of the clamping members and into telescoping relation with the other book cover and serves to cover ,said binding members and to close the space between said binding members for presenting a desirable appearance.

Each of the sheets as 46 intended to be used in connection with this binder is provided with apertures as 17 through which the thongs are adapted to extend and each of said apertures is preferably cut through to the edge of the sheet as at 48 to facilitate the easy introduction and removal of the sheet on to or ofl" of the thong.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent 1s:-

1. In a temporary binder, the combination comprising a pair of clamping members; a pair of covers pivotally connected to said clamping members, flexible means extending between and connecting said members; and quick-acting mechanism comprised in one ofv said clamping members adapted for taking up said flexible means to move said clamping members into clamping position.

2. In a temporary binder, the combination comprising a pair of clamping members; a pair of covers pivotally connected to said clamping members, flexible means extending between and connecting said members; screw actuated means comprised in one of said clamping members for taking up said flexible means; and quick-acting means comprised in the other of said clamping members for taking up said flexible means,

all for adjusting said clamping members into clamping position.

3. In a temporary book-binder, the combination of a pair of hollow clamping members; a pair of flexible connectors ex tending between said members; book covers pivotally connected to said members; means fixed to one of said book covers and telescoping into the other of said book covers and adapted to cover said clamping members when the book is closed; and a pair of separate mechanisms located in one of said clamping members and each secured to one of said flexible connectors for the purpose of taking up the same in order to adjust said clamping members into clamping position.

4. In a temporary book binder, the combination comprising a pair of hollow clamping members; a flexible connector extending between said members; a longitudinally disposed stiffening rib formed Within one of said clamping members; a slidable member guided by said stiflening rib carrying one end of said flexible connector; and means for sliding said slidable member for taking up said flexible connector to adjust said clamping members into clamping position.

5. In a temporary binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members; a plurality of flexible connectors extending between and connecting said clamping members; quick-acting means comprised in one of said clamping members for rapidly taking up said flexible connectors; and mechanism comprised in the other of said clamping members and secured to said flexible connectors for the purpose of taking up said connectors by exerting leverage thereupon.

6. In a temporary binder, the combination of a pair of hollow clamping members; a plurality of flexible connectors extending between and connecting said clamping members; a plurality of quick-acting take-up mechanisms housed within one of said clamping members and secured, respectively, to said flexible connectors; and mechanism located within the other of said hollow clamping members and secured to all of said flexible connectors for taking up said con-' nectors and exerting leverage thereupon.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BURTON E. CULIMINGS. Witnesses:

L. Gnssronn HANDS, L. ALTMAN. 

